Deciding what diamond to buy isn't an easy decision. There are a lot of decisions that go into it, from budget and style to weighing the "4 Cs" and natural versus lab-grown. You probably have some general ideas based on some direction given to you by the intended recipient. From there, you'll need to weigh the different options to buy the perfect diamond.
At Diamond Karma, we are busy working on a diamond comparison shopping tool that aggregates diamonds for sale from many websites and helps you find the best diamond. While we're working on it, we have recommended partners below with a wide selection of diamonds and jewelry at great prices for you to browse. It might take a little longer for now, but we hope you'll find exactly what you're looking for!
Company | Description |
Brian Gavin Diamonds |
Brian Gavin Diamonds is an industry leader in quality diamond engagement rings, wedding bands, and designer jewelry. With decades of experience and an expansive selection, Brian Gavin Diamonds is an excellent place to start your search for a diamond ring. Shop Now! |
Netaya.com |
Netaya has a great selection of lower-priced jewelry great for everyday gifts and occasions. With a wide selection of gifts mostly between $30-$300, you're likely to find something stunning and affordable! Shop Now! |
By using the diamond karma calculator and budget matrix tool you'll learn a lot about how big of a diamond you can buy and how much it will cost retail, online, or wholesale. Everyone wants the biggest diamond for the lowest possible price, but keep in mind to never go below these criteria:
Never go below:
Minimum recommendation:
Follow the advice below when you're ready to begin the diamond buying process:
Color - G is the best color for the money. Avoid anything below I and know that K clearly has a yellow tint.
Cut - GIA scale is only excellent, very good, good, fair, poor. Any wording such as super ideal or ideal should be avoided and will not appear on an official GIA report.
Clarity - I1 will have inclusions visible to the naked eye. Stay in the VS1 down to the SI2 range for the best value. However, clarity is one area that can be compromised on when trying to buy a bigger diamond.
Lab - Only buy GIA certified certified. Study the report and look for the words "enhanced", temperature and/or pressure treatment, irradiation, fracture filling, laser drilling, or coating. Any of this types of enhancements are an automatic drop of 60% off of the price.
TIP: Only buy diamonds with a GIA report
TIP: Look up the diamond report on the GIA website located here
TIP: Read this excellent buying guide provided by BJ's wholesale club located here
TIP: Read this excellent articles on Today.com
The Question... How big of a diamond can you buy on your budget without compromising quality?
When shopping for diamonds, most consumers struggle with balancing the size, quality, and price of a diamond. We have developed a proprietary scale similar to traditional school grading systems that give a diamond a rating of A+ A or A-, B+ B or B-, C+ C or C-, D+ D or D-, or F. Our budget calculator uses this systems to return only high quality diamonds in the B, B-, C range since we feel this is the best value for your money.
How much you spend depends on many factors, but is exponential based on the carat weight. You'll be doing well if you can buy these prices at a retail store (using G color, GIA lab, Good cut, and SI2 clarity):
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